Bears won't rule out trading backup QB Tyson Bagent
INDIANAPOLIS — Ben Johnson was asked Tuesday about the possibility the Bears trade backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, a player with whom he's been enamored since taking the Bears' head coaching job a year ago.
He pulled his right hand to his mouth in dramatic fashion and let out a fake cough.
"No!" he coughed into the air.
Johnson doesn't joke often. This one got laughs. Then he got serious.
The Bears have had teams call about Bagent's availability. They haven't said no.
"I love Tyson," Johnson said. "And that’s one that kind of pulls at your heartstrings a little bit because he’s someone that you care about so deeply and he’s a hell of a football player that at some point you want to see him have a chance to do it himself.
"And so we’ll always do what’s best for our team and our organization. I do think there’s a lot of merit to having a strong No. 2 quarterback, which he certainly fits that bill. I’m of the mind that he’s probably one of the best 32 of the NFL. His preseason tape over the last couple years has probably confirmed that, in my opinion. But if I took myself out of the equation, I want what’s best for him. If he would like an opportunity to start I certainly hope he can get that somewhere."
Rather than shoot down a trade possibility Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bears GM Ryan Poles called any potential move an “interesting dynamic that we’re going to have to work through.”
Poles plucked Bagent out of Div. II Shepherd University and he quickly won the Bears' backup job in 2023. Poles and Johnson so value Bagent that they gave him a two-year, $10 million extension last year that runs though the end of the 2027 season. The Bears haven’t needed him the last two years, though — with Caleb Williams making every start, Bagent has thrown just six passes.
Williams’ perfect run of health won’t continue forever, though. If the Bears trade him, they’d have to find a solid backup to take his place. The Bears would probably need a Day 2 draft pick just to consider a move.
The Bears anticipated teams would call about Bagent’s availability given a weak free agent and rookie class at quarterback. He's cheap and has been effective — in his four rookie starts and all three preseasons of his career.
“The tough thing is, with what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson, that’s a really tough decision for us,” Poles said. “But for Tyson as well, I think he would have an opportunity to go and perform for a team and do some really good things.
“But again, you’ve got to weigh the short-term and the long-term. Now, what’s the cost for replacement? We spent a lot of time developing him. Ben spent a lot of time developing him.”